Playback Transfer in a Media Playback System

ABSTRACT

Example techniques relate to transferring playback between playback devices within a network media system. In an example, while a first playback device is playing a first audio track of a playlist, a device displays a representation of metadata for the first audio track, transport controls to control playback, a volume control to control playback volume, and a selectable control that, when selected, causes display of a zone selection interface. The device receives input data representing a selection of the selectable control and modifies the control interface to display the zone selection interface, which includes indications of second playback devices and respective second selectable controls. The device receives input data representing selections of one or more second selectable controls, which correspond to one or more particular second playback devices and then transfers playback to the one or more particular second playback devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/661,357, filed Apr. 29, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/672,798, filed Nov. 4, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No.11,321,046, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/956,640, filed Dec. 2, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,466,956, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/864,086, filed Apr.16, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,247,363, each of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure is related to consumer goods and, more particularly, tomethods, systems, products, features, services, and other items directedto media playback or some aspect thereof.

BACKGROUND

Digital music has become readily available due in part to thedevelopment of consumer level technology that has allowed people tolisten to digital music on a personal audio device. The consumer'sincreasing preference for digital audio has also resulted in theintegration of personal audio devices into PDAs, cellular phones, andother mobile devices. The portability of these mobile devices hasenabled people to take the music listening experience with them andoutside of the home. People have become able to consume digital music,like digital music files or even Internet radio, in the home through theuse of their computer or similar devices. Now there are many differentways to consume digital music, in addition to other digital contentincluding digital video and photos, stimulated in many ways byhigh-speed Internet access at home, mobile broadband Internet access,and the consumer's hunger for digital media.

Until recently, options for accessing and listening to digital audio inan out-loud setting were severely limited. In 2005, Sonos offered forsale its first digital audio system that enabled people to, among manyother things, access virtually unlimited sources of audio via one ormore networked connected zone players, dynamically group or ungroup zoneplayers upon command, wirelessly send the audio over a local networkamongst zone players, and play the digital audio out loud in synchrony.The Sonos system can be controlled by software applications downloadedto certain network capable, mobile devices and computers.

Given the insatiable appetite of consumers towards digital media, therecontinues to be a need to develop consumer technology thatrevolutionizes the way people access and consume digital media.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed technologymay be better understood with regard to the following description,appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows an example configuration in which certain embodiments maybe practiced;

FIG. 2A shows an illustration of an example zone player having abuilt-in amplifier and transducers;

FIG. 2B shows an illustration of an example zone player having abuilt-in amplifier and connected to external speakers;

FIG. 2C shows an illustration of an example zone player connected to anA/V receiver and speakers;

FIG. 3 shows an illustration of an example controller;

FIG. 4 shows an internal functional block diagram of an example zoneplayer;

FIG. 5 shows an internal functional block diagram of an examplecontroller;

FIG. 6 shows an example playback queue configuration for a network mediasystem;

FIG. 7 shows an example ad-hoc playback network;

FIG. 8 shows a system including a plurality of networks including acloud-based network and at least one local playback network;

FIG. 9 shows an example flow diagram for transferring a playback queuein a network media system;

FIG. 10A shows a first example representation of a first exampleinterface for transferring a playback queue in a network media system;

FIG. 10B shows a second example representation of the first exampleinterface for transferring the playback queue in a network media system;

FIG. 11A shows a first example representation of a second exampleinterface for transferring a playback queue in a network media system;

FIG. 11B shows a second example representation of the second exampleinterface for transferring a playback queue in a network media system;and

FIG. 11C shows a third example representation of the second exampleinterface for transferring the playback queue in a network media system.

In addition, the drawings are for the purpose of illustrating exampleembodiments, but it is understood that the inventions are not limited tothe arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Overview

Embodiments described herein involve transferring a first playback queuefrom a first group of one or more playback zones to a second group ofone or more playback zones within a network media system. The firstplayback queue may include one or more media items, or playlists ofitems, that have been added by one or more users of the network mediasystem. The first playback queue may be associated with the first groupof one or more playback zones, such that items in the first playbackqueue are items to be rendered by the first group. In one example,transferring the first playback queue from the first group to the secondgroup may involve populating a second playback queue associated with thesecond group with the media items in the first playback queue. In onecase, the rendering of the media items in the first playback queue maybe extended from the first group to the second group in a substantiallyseamless manner during the transfer of the first playback queue.

In an example scenario, a user of the network media system may behosting a dinner party and may have added music to the first playbackqueue for the dinner party. In this example, the first group of zonesassociated with the first playback queue may include the kitchen, diningroom, and living room. After dinner, the dinner party may determine thatthe weather is nice and would prefer to continue their conversations onthe porch rather than the living room. As such, a user may access a userinterface of the network media system and transfer the first playbackqueue from the first group to the second group of zones such that themusic may continue to play in the background during their conversations.In this case, the second group of zones may include the porch. Inanother case, the second group of zones may include the porch and theliving room, in case some guests prefer to stay indoors.

The user interface accessed to transfer the first playback queue may bea user interface configured to manage and control the network mediasystem, and may be provided on a device in communication with thenetwork media system. In one instance, the user may transfer the firstplayback queue from the first zone to the second zone by dragging agraphic representation of the first playback queue to a graphicrepresentation of the second zone.

As indicated, the present application involves transferring a firstplayback queue from a first group of one or more playback zones to asecond group of one or more playback zones within a network mediasystem. In one aspect, a method is provided. The method involvesproviding a first zone representation of a playback zone on aninterface. The playback zone comprises one or more playback devices, andthe playback zone is associated with a playback queue comprisingplayable items to be played by the playback zone. The method furtherinvolves providing a first queue representation of a first one or moreplayable items in a particular position relative to the first zonerepresentation on the interface. The particular position of the firstqueue representation indicates that the playback queue associated withthe first playback zone comprises the first one or more playable items.The method also involve receiving an input via the interface causing asecond queue representation of a second one or more playable items to bemoved to the particular position relative to the first zonerepresentation, and responsive to the input, modifying the interface toremove the first queue representation from the particular positionrelative to the first zone representation and providing the second queuerepresentation in the particular position relative to the first zonerepresentation, indicating that the playback queue associated with theplayback zone now comprises the second one or more playable items.

In another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable memory isprovided. The non-transitory computer readable memory has stored thereoninstructions executable by a computing device to cause the computingdevice to perform functions. The functions include providing a firstzone representation of a playback zone on an interface. The playbackzone comprises one or more playback devices, and the playback zone isassociated with a playback queue comprising playable items to be playedby the playback zone. The functions further include providing a firstqueue representation of a first one or more playable items in aparticular position relative to the first zone representation on theinterface. The particular position of the first queue representationindicates that the playback queue associated with the first playbackzone comprises the first one or more playable items. The functions alsoinclude receiving an input via the interface causing a second queuerepresentation of a second one or more playable items to be moved to theparticular position relative to the first zone representation, andresponsive to the input, modifying the interface to remove the firstqueue representation from the particular position relative to the firstzone representation and providing the second queue representation in theparticular position relative to the first zone representation,indicating that the playback queue associated with the playback zone nowcomprises the second one or more playable items.

In yet another aspect, a device is provided. The device includes aprocessor and memory having stored thereon instructions executable bythe processor to perform functions. The functions include providing afirst zone representation of a playback zone on an interface. Theplayback zone comprises one or more playback devices, and the playbackzone is associated with a playback queue comprising playable items to beplayed by the playback zone. The functions further include providing afirst queue representation of a first one or more playable items in aparticular position relative to the first zone representation on theinterface. The particular position of the first queue representationindicates that the playback queue associated with the first playbackzone comprises the first one or more playable items. The functions alsoinclude receiving an input via the interface causing a second queuerepresentation of a second one or more playable items to be moved to theparticular position relative to the first zone representation, andresponsive to the input, modifying the interface to remove the firstqueue representation from the particular position relative to the firstzone representation and providing the second queue representation in theparticular position relative to the first zone representation,indicating that the playback queue associated with the playback zone nowcomprises the second one or more playable items.

Other embodiments, as those discussed in the following and others as canbe appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art are alsopossible.

II. Example Operating Environment

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals can refer to likeparts throughout the figures, FIG. 1 shows an example media systemconfiguration 100 in which one or more embodiments disclosed herein canbe practiced or implemented.

By way of illustration, the media system configuration 100 is associatedwith a home having multiple zones, though the home could have beenconfigured with only one zone. Additionally, one or more zones can beadded over time. Each zone may be assigned by a user to a different roomor space, such as, for example, an office, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen,dining room, family room, home theater room, utility or laundry room,and patio. A single zone might also include multiple rooms or spaces ifso configured. With respect to FIG. 1 , one or more of zone players102-124 are shown in each respective zone. A zone player 102-124, alsoreferred to herein as a playback device, multimedia unit, speaker,player, and so on, provides audio, video, and/or audiovisual output. Acontroller 130 (e.g., shown in the kitchen for purposes of thisillustration) provides control to the media system configuration 100.Controller 130 may be fixed to a zone, or alternatively, mobile suchthat it can be moved about the zones. The media system configuration 100may also include more than one controller 130, and additionalcontrollers may be added to the system over time.

The media system configuration 100 illustrates an example whole housemedia system, though it is understood that the technology describedherein is not limited to, among other things, its particular place ofapplication or to an expansive system like a whole house media system100 of FIG. 1 .

a. Example Zone Players

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show example types of zone players. Zone players200, 202, and 204 of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively, can correspondto any of the zone players 102-124 of FIG. 1 , for example. In someembodiments, audio is reproduced using only a single zone player, suchas by a full-range player. In some embodiments, audio is reproducedusing two or more zone players, such as by using a combination offull-range players or a combination of full-range and specializedplayers. In some embodiments, zone players 200-204 may also be referredto as a “smart speaker,” because they contain processing capabilitiesbeyond the reproduction of audio, more of which is described below.

FIG. 2A illustrates zone player 200 that includes sound producingequipment 208 capable of reproducing full-range sound. The sound maycome from an audio signal that is received and processed by zone player200 over a wired or wireless data network. Sound producing equipment 208includes one or more built-in amplifiers and one or more acoustictransducers (e.g., speakers). A built-in amplifier is described morebelow with respect to FIG. 4 . A speaker or acoustic transducer caninclude, for example, any of a tweeter, a mid-range driver, a low-rangedriver, and a subwoofer. In some embodiments, zone player 200 can bestatically or dynamically configured to play stereophonic audio,monaural audio, or both. In some embodiments, zone player 200 may bedynamically configured to reproduce a subset of full-range sound, suchas when zone player 200 is grouped with other zone players to playstereophonic audio, monaural audio, and/or surround audio or when theaudio content received by zone player 200 is less than full-range.

FIG. 2B illustrates zone player 202 that includes a built-in amplifierto power a set of detached speakers 210. A detached speaker can include,for example, any type of loudspeaker. Zone player 202 may be configuredto power one, two, or more separate loudspeakers. Zone player 202 may beconfigured to communicate an audio signal (e.g., right and left channelaudio or more channels depending on its configuration) to the detachedspeakers 210 via a wired path.

FIG. 2C illustrates zone player 204 that does not include a built-inamplifier, but is configured to communicate an audio signal, receivedover a data network, to an audio (or “audio/video”) receiver 214 withbuilt-in amplification.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, one, some, or all of thezone players 102 to 124 can retrieve audio directly from a source. Forexample, a particular zone player in a zone or zone group may beassigned to a playback queue (or “queue”). The playback queue containsinformation corresponding to zero or more audio items for playback bythe associated zone or zone group. The playback queue may be stored inmemory on a zone player or some other designated device. Each itemcontained in the playback queue may comprise a uniform resourceidentifier (URI) or some other identifier that can be used by the zoneplayer(s) to seek out and/or retrieve the audio items from theidentified audio source(s). Depending on the item, the audio sourcemight be found on the Internet (e.g., the cloud), locally from anotherdevice over the data network 128 (described further below), from thecontroller 130, stored on the zone player itself, or from an audiosource communicating directly to the zone player. In some embodiments,the zone player can reproduce the audio itself (e.g., play the audio),send the audio to another zone player for reproduction, or both wherethe audio is reproduced by the zone player as well as one or moreadditional zone players (possibly in synchrony). In some embodiments,the zone player may play a first audio content (or alternatively, maynot play the content at all), while sending a second, different audiocontent to another zone player(s) for reproduction. To the user, eachitem in a playback queue is represented on an interface of a controllerby an element such as a track name, album name, playlist, or other someother representation. A user can populate the playback queue with audioitems of interest. The user may also modify and clear the playbackqueue, if so desired.

By way of illustration, SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara, Californiapresently offers for sale zone players referred to as a “PLAY:5,”“PLAY:3,” “PLAYBAR,” “CONNECT:AMP,” “CONNECT,” and “SUB.” Any otherpast, present, and/or future zone players can additionally oralternatively be used to implement the zone players of exampleembodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, it is understood that a zoneplayer is not limited to the particular examples illustrated in FIGS.2A, 2B, and 2C or to the SONOS product offerings. For example, a zoneplayer may include a wired or wireless headphone. In yet anotherexample, a zone player might include a sound bar for television. In yetanother example, a zone player may include or interact with a dockingstation for an Apple IPOD™ or similar device.

b. Example Controllers

FIG. 3 illustrates an example wireless controller 300 in docking station302. By way of illustration, controller 300 may correspond tocontrolling device 130 of FIG. 1 . Docking station 302, if provided orused, may provide power to the controller 300 and additionally maycharge a battery of controller 300. In some embodiments, controller 300may be provided with a touch screen 304 that allows a user to interactthrough touch with the controller 300, for example, to retrieve andnavigate a playlist of audio items, control operations of one or morezone players, and provide overall control of the system configuration100. In other embodiments, other input mechanisms such as voice controlmay be used to interact with the controller 300. In certain embodiments,any number of controllers can be used to control the systemconfiguration 100. In some embodiments, there may be a limit set on thenumber of controllers that can control the system configuration 100. Thecontrollers might be wireless like wireless controller 300 or wired todata network 128.

In some embodiments, if more than one controller is used in system 100of FIG. 1 , each controller may be coordinated to display commoncontent, and may all be dynamically updated to indicate changes made tothe system 100 from a single controller. Coordination can occur, forinstance, by a controller periodically requesting a state variabledirectly or indirectly from one or more of the zone players; the statevariable may provide information about system 100, such as current zonegroup configuration, what is playing in one or more zones, volumelevels, and other items of interest. The state variable may be passedaround on data network 128 between zone players (and controllers, if sodesired) as needed or as often as programmed.

In addition, an application running on any network-enabled portabledevice, such as an IPHONE™, IPAD™, ANDROID™ powered phone or tablet, orany other smart phone or network-enabled device can be used ascontroller 130. An application running on a laptop or desktop personalcomputer (PC) or Mac™ can also be used as controller 130. Suchcontrollers may connect to system 100 through an interface with datanetwork 128, a zone player, a wireless router, or using some otherconfigured connection path. Example controllers offered by Sonos, Inc.of Santa Barbara, California include a “Controller 200,” “SONOS®CONTROL,” “SONOS® Controller for IPHONE™,” “SONOS® Controller forIPAD™,” “SONOS® Controller for ANDROID™,” “SONOS® Controller for MAC™ orPC.”

c. Example Data Connection

Zone players 102 to 124 of FIG. 1 are coupled directly or indirectly toa data network, such as data network 128. Controller 130 may also becoupled directly or indirectly to data network 128 or individual zoneplayers. Data network 128 is represented by an octagon in the figure tostand out from other representative components. While data network 128is shown in a single location, it is understood that such a network isdistributed in and around system 100. Particularly, data network 128 canbe a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination of both wiredand wireless networks. In some embodiments, one or more of the zoneplayers 102-124 are wirelessly coupled to data network 128 based on aproprietary mesh network. In some embodiments, one or more of the zoneplayers are coupled to data network 128 using a centralized access pointsuch as a wired or wireless router. In some embodiments, one or more ofthe zone players 102-124 are coupled via a wire to data network 128using Ethernet or similar technology. In addition to the one or morezone players 102-124 connecting to data network 128, data network 128can further allow access to a wide area network, such as the Internet.

In some embodiments, connecting any of the zone players 102-124, or someother connecting device, to a broadband router, can create data network128. Other zone players 102-124 can then be added wired or wirelessly tothe data network 128. For example, a zone player (e.g., any of zoneplayers 102-124) can be added to the system configuration 100 by simplypressing a button on the zone player itself (or perform some otheraction), which enables a connection to be made to data network 128. Thebroadband router can be connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP),for example. The broadband router can be used to form another datanetwork within the system configuration 100, which can be used in otherapplications (e.g., web surfing). Data network 128 can also be used inother applications, if so programmed. An example, second network mayimplement SONOSNET™ protocol, developed by SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara.SONOSNET™ represents a secure, AES-encrypted, peer-to-peer wireless meshnetwork. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, the data network 128 isthe same network, such as a traditional wired or wireless network, usedfor other applications in the household.

d. Example Zone Configurations

A particular zone can contain one or more zone players. For example, thefamily room of FIG. 1 contains two zone players 106 and 108, while thekitchen is shown with one zone player 102. In another example, the hometheater room contains additional zone players to play audio from a 5.1channel or greater audio source (e.g., a movie encoded with 5.1 orgreater audio channels). In some embodiments, one can position a zoneplayer in a room or space and assign the zone player to a new orexisting zone via controller 130. As such, zones may be created,combined with another zone, removed, and given a specific name (e.g.,“Kitchen”), if so desired and programmed to do so with controller 130.Moreover, in some embodiments, zone configurations may be dynamicallychanged even after being configured using controller 130 or some othermechanism.

In some embodiments, if a zone contains two or more zone players, suchas the two zone players 106 and 108 in the family room, then the twozone players 106 and 108 can be configured to play the same audio sourcein synchrony, or the two zone players 106 and 108 can be paired to playtwo separate sounds in left and right channels, for example. In otherwords, the stereo effects of a sound can be reproduced or enhancedthrough the two zone players 106 and 108, one for the left sound and theother for the right sound. In certain embodiments, paired zone players(also referred to as “bonded zone players”) can play audio in synchronywith other zone players in the same or different zones.

In some embodiments, two or more zone players can be sonicallyconsolidated to form a single, consolidated zone player. A consolidatedzone player (though made up of multiple, separate devices) can beconfigured to process and reproduce sound differently than anunconsolidated zone player or zone players that are paired, because aconsolidated zone player will have additional speaker drivers from whichsound can be passed. The consolidated zone player can further be pairedwith a single zone player or yet another consolidated zone player. Eachplayback device of a consolidated playback device can be set in aconsolidated mode, for example.

According to some embodiments, one can continue to do any of: group,consolidate, and pair zone players, for example, until a desiredconfiguration is complete. The actions of grouping, consolidation, andpairing are preferably performed through a control interface, such asusing controller 130, and not by physically connecting and re-connectingspeaker wire, for example, to individual, discrete speakers to createdifferent configurations. As such, certain embodiments described hereinprovide a more flexible and dynamic platform through which soundreproduction can be offered to the end-user.

e. Example Audio Sources

In some embodiments, each zone can play from the same audio source asanother zone or each zone can play from a different audio source. Forexample, someone can be grilling on the patio and listening to jazzmusic via zone player 124, while someone is preparing food in thekitchen and listening to classical music via zone player 102. Further,someone can be in the office listening to the same jazz music via zoneplayer 110 that is playing on the patio via zone player 124. In someembodiments, the jazz music played via zone players 110 and 124 isplayed in synchrony. Synchronizing playback amongst zones allows forsomeone to pass through zones while seamlessly (or substantiallyseamlessly) listening to the audio. Further, zones can be put into a“party mode” such that all associated zones will play audio insynchrony.

Sources of audio content to be played by zone players 102-124 arenumerous. In some embodiments, audio on a zone player itself may beaccessed and played. In some embodiments, audio on a controller may beaccessed via the data network 128 and played. In some embodiments, musicfrom a personal library stored on a computer or networked-attachedstorage (NAS) may be accessed via the data network 128 and played. Insome embodiments, Internet radio stations, shows, and podcasts may beaccessed via the data network 128 and played. Music or cloud servicesthat let a user stream and/or download music and audio content may beaccessed via the data network 128 and played. Further, music may beobtained from traditional sources, such as a turntable or CD player, viaa line-in connection to a zone player, for example. Audio content mayalso be accessed using a different protocol, such as AIRPLAY™, which isa wireless technology by Apple, Inc., for example. Audio contentreceived from one or more sources can be shared amongst the zone players102 to 124 via data network 128 and/or controller 130. Theabove-disclosed sources of audio content are referred to herein asnetwork-based audio information sources. However, network-based audioinformation sources are not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the example home theater zone players 116, 118, 120are coupled to an audio information source such as a television 132. Insome examples, the television 132 is used as a source of audio for thehome theater zone players 116, 118, 120, while in other examples audioinformation from the television 132 may be shared with any of the zoneplayers 102-124 in the audio system 100.

III. Example Zone Players

Referring now to FIG. 4 , there is shown an example block diagram of azone player 400 in accordance with an embodiment. Zone player 400includes a network interface 402, a processor 408, a memory 410, anaudio processing component 412, one or more modules 414, an audioamplifier 416, and a speaker unit 418 coupled to the audio amplifier416. FIG. 2A shows an example illustration of such a zone player. Othertypes of zone players may not include the speaker unit 418 (e.g., suchas shown in FIG. 2B) or the audio amplifier 416 (e.g., such as shown inFIG. 2C). Further, it is contemplated that the zone player 400 can beintegrated into another component. For example, the zone player 400could be constructed as part of a television, lighting, or some otherdevice for indoor or outdoor use.

In some embodiments, network interface 402 facilitates a data flowbetween zone player 400 and other devices on a data network 128. In someembodiments, in addition to getting audio from another zone player ordevice on data network 128, zone player 400 may access audio directlyfrom the audio source, such as over a wide area network or on the localnetwork. In some embodiments, the network interface 402 can furtherhandle the address part of each packet so that it gets to the rightdestination or intercepts packets destined for the zone player 400.Accordingly, in certain embodiments, each of the packets includes anInternet Protocol (IP)-based source address as well as an IP-baseddestination address.

In some embodiments, network interface 402 can include one or both of awireless interface 404 and a wired interface 406. The wireless interface404, also referred to as a radio frequency (RF) interface, providesnetwork interface functions for the zone player 400 to wirelesslycommunicate with other devices (e.g., other zone player(s), speaker(s),receiver(s), component(s) associated with the data network 128, and soon) in accordance with a communication protocol (e.g., any wirelessstandard including IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.15, 4Gmobile communication standard, and so on). Wireless interface 404 mayinclude one or more radios. To receive wireless signals and to providethe wireless signals to the wireless interface 404 and to transmitwireless signals, the zone player 400 includes one or more antennas 420.The wired interface 406 provides network interface functions for thezone player 400 to communicate over a wire with other devices inaccordance with a communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.3). In someembodiments, a zone player includes multiple wireless 404 interfaces. Insome embodiments, a zone player includes multiple wired 406 interfaces.In some embodiments, a zone player includes both of the interfaces 404and 406. In some embodiments, a zone player 400 includes only thewireless interface 404 or the wired interface 406.

In some embodiments, the processor 408 is a clock-driven electronicdevice that is configured to process input data according toinstructions stored in memory 410. The memory 410 is data storage thatcan be loaded with one or more software module(s) 414, which can beexecuted by the processor 408 to achieve certain tasks. In theillustrated embodiment, the memory 410 is a tangible machine-readablemedium storing instructions that can be executed by the processor 408.In some embodiments, a task might be for the zone player 400 to retrieveaudio data from another zone player or a device on a network (e.g.,using a uniform resource locator (URL) or some other identifier). Insome embodiments, a task may be for the zone player 400 to send audiodata to another zone player or device on a network. In some embodiments,a task may be for the zone player 400 to synchronize playback of audiowith one or more additional zone players. In some embodiments, a taskmay be to pair the zone player 400 with one or more zone players tocreate a multi-channel audio environment. Additional or alternativetasks can be achieved via the one or more software module(s) 414 and theprocessor 408.

The audio processing component 412 can include one or moredigital-to-analog converters (DAC), an audio preprocessing component, anaudio enhancement component or a digital signal processor, and so on. Insome embodiments, the audio processing component 412 may be part ofprocessor 408. In some embodiments, the audio that is retrieved via thenetwork interface 402 is processed and/or intentionally altered by theaudio processing component 412. Further, the audio processing component412 can produce analog audio signals. The processed analog audio signalsare then provided to the audio amplifier 416 for playback throughspeakers 418. In addition, the audio processing component 412 caninclude circuitry to process analog or digital signals as inputs to playfrom zone player 400, send to another zone player on a network, or bothplay and send to another zone player on the network. An example inputincludes a line-in connection (e.g., an auto-detecting 3.5 mm audioline-in connection).

The audio amplifier 416 is a device(s) that amplifies audio signals to alevel for driving one or more speakers 418. The one or more speakers 418can include an individual transducer (e.g., a “driver”) or a completespeaker system that includes an enclosure including one or more drivers.A particular driver can be a subwoofer (e.g., for low frequencies), amid-range driver (e.g., for middle frequencies), and a tweeter (e.g.,for high frequencies), for example. An enclosure can be sealed orported, for example. Each transducer may be driven by its own individualamplifier.

A commercial example, presently known as the PLAY:5™, is a zone playerwith a built-in amplifier and speakers that is capable of retrievingaudio directly from the source, such as on the Internet or on the localnetwork, for example. In particular, the PLAY:5™ is a five-amp,five-driver speaker system that includes two tweeters, two mid-rangedrivers, and one woofer. When playing audio content via the PLAY:5, theleft audio data of a track is sent out of the left tweeter and leftmid-range driver, the right audio data of a track is sent out of theright tweeter and the right mid-range driver, and mono bass is sent outof the subwoofer. Further, both mid-range drivers and both tweeters havethe same equalization (or substantially the same equalization). That is,they are both sent the same frequencies but from different channels ofaudio. Audio from Internet radio stations, online music and videoservices, downloaded music, analog audio inputs, television, DVD, and soon, can be played from the PLAY:5™.

IV. Example Controller

Referring now to FIG. 5 , there is shown an example block diagram forcontroller 500, which can correspond to the controlling device 130 inFIG. 1 . Controller 500 can be used to facilitate the control ofmulti-media applications, automation and others in a system. Inparticular, the controller 500 may be configured to facilitate aselection of a plurality of audio sources available on the network andenable control of one or more zone players (e.g., the zone players102-124 in FIG. 1 ) through a wireless or wired network interface 508.According to one embodiment, the wireless communications is based on anindustry standard (e.g., infrared, radio, wireless standards includingIEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.15, 4G mobile communicationstandard, and so on). Further, when a particular audio is being accessedvia the controller 500 or being played via a zone player, a picture(e.g., album art) or any other data, associated with the audio and/oraudio source can be transmitted from a zone player or other electronicdevice to controller 500 for display.

Controller 500 is provided with a screen 502 and an input interface 514that allows a user to interact with the controller 500, for example, tonavigate a playlist of many multimedia items and to control operationsof one or more zone players. The screen 502 on the controller 500 can bean LCD screen, for example. The screen 500 communicates with and iscommanded by a screen driver 504 that is controlled by a microcontroller(e.g., a processor) 506. The memory 510 can be loaded with one or moreapplication modules 512 that can be executed by the microcontroller 506with or without a user input via the user interface 514 to achievecertain tasks. In some embodiments, an application module 512 isconfigured to facilitate grouping a number of selected zone players intoa zone group and synchronizing the zone players for audio playback. Insome embodiments, an application module 512 is configured to control theaudio sounds (e.g., volume) of the zone players in a zone group. Inoperation, when the microcontroller 506 executes one or more of theapplication modules 512, the screen driver 504 generates control signalsto drive the screen 502 to display an application specific userinterface accordingly.

The controller 500 includes a network interface 508 that facilitateswired or wireless communication with a zone player. In some embodiments,the commands such as volume control and audio playback synchronizationare sent via the network interface 508. In some embodiments, a savedzone group configuration is transmitted between a zone player and acontroller via the network interface 508. The controller 500 can controlone or more zone players, such as 102-124 of FIG. 1 . There can be morethan one controller for a particular system, and each controller mayshare common information with another controller, or retrieve the commoninformation from a zone player, if such a zone player storesconfiguration data (e.g., such as a state variable). Further, acontroller can be integrated into a zone player.

It should be noted that other network-enabled devices such as anIPHONE™, IPAD™ or any other smart phone or network-enabled device (e.g.,a networked computer such as a PC or MAC′) can also be used as acontroller to interact or control zone players in a particularenvironment. In some embodiments, a software application or upgrade canbe downloaded onto a network-enabled device to perform the functionsdescribed herein.

In certain embodiments, a user can create a zone group (also referred toas a bonded zone) including at least two zone players from thecontroller 500. The zone players in the zone group can play audio in asynchronized fashion, such that all of the zone players in the zonegroup playback an identical audio source or a list of identical audiosources in a synchronized manner such that no (or substantially no)audible delays or hiccups are to be heard. Similarly, in someembodiments, when a user increases the audio volume of the group fromthe controller 500, the signals or data of increasing the audio volumefor the group are sent to one of the zone players and causes other zoneplayers in the group to be increased together in volume.

A user via the controller 500 can group zone players into a zone groupby activating a “Link Zones” or “Add Zone” soft button, or de-grouping azone group by activating an “Unlink Zones” or “Drop Zone” button. Forexample, one mechanism for ‘joining’ zone players together for audioplayback is to link a number of zone players together to form a group.To link a number of zone players together, a user can manually link eachzone player or room one after the other. For example, assume that thereis a multi-zone system that includes the following zones: Bathroom,Bedroom, Den, Dining Room, Family Room, and Foyer.

In certain embodiments, a user can link any number of the six zoneplayers, for example, by starting with a single zone and then manuallylinking each zone to that zone.

In certain embodiments, a set of zones can be dynamically linkedtogether using a command to create a zone scene or theme (subsequent tofirst creating the zone scene). For instance, a “Morning” zone scenecommand can link the Bedroom, Office, and Kitchen zones together in oneaction. Without this single command, the user would manually andindividually link each zone. The single command may include a mouseclick, a double mouse click, a button press, a gesture, or some otherprogrammed or learned action. Other kinds of zone scenes can beprogrammed or learned by the system over time.

In certain embodiments, a zone scene can be triggered based on time(e.g., an alarm clock function). For instance, a zone scene can be setto apply at 8:00 am. The system can link appropriate zonesautomatically, set specific music to play, and then stop the music aftera defined duration. Although any particular zone can be triggered to an“On” or “Off” state based on time, for example, a zone scene enables anyzone(s) linked to the scene to play a predefined audio (e.g., afavorable song, a predefined playlist) at a specific time and/or for aspecific duration. If, for any reason, the scheduled music failed to beplayed (e.g., an empty playlist, no connection to a share, failedUniversal Plug and Play (UPnP), no Internet connection for an InternetRadio station, and so on), a backup buzzer can be programmed to sound.The buzzer can include a sound file that is stored in a zone player, forexample.

V. Playback Queue

As discussed above, in some embodiments, a zone player may be assignedto a playback queue identifying zero or more media items for playback bythe zone player. The media items identified in a playback queue may berepresented to the user via an interface on a controller. For instance,the representation may show the user (or users if more than onecontroller is connected to the system) how the zone player is traversingthe playback queue, such as by highlighting the “now playing” item,graying out the previously played item(s), highlighting the to-be-playeditem(s), and so on.

In some embodiments, a single zone player is assigned to a playbackqueue. For example, zone player 114 in the bathroom of FIG. 1 may belinked or assigned to a “Bathroom” playback queue. In an embodiment, the“Bathroom” playback queue might have been established by the system as aresult of the user naming the zone player 114 to the bathroom. As such,contents populated and identified in the “Bathroom” playback queue canbe played via the zone player 114 (the bathroom zone).

In some embodiments, a zone or zone group is assigned to a playbackqueue. For example, zone players 106 and 108 in the family room of FIG.1 may be linked or assigned to a “Family room” playback queue. Inanother example, if family room and dining room zones were grouped, thenthe new group would be linked or assigned to a family room+dining roomplayback queue. In some embodiments, the family room+dining roomplayback queue would be established based upon the creation of thegroup. In some embodiments, upon establishment of the new group, thefamily room+dining room playback queue can automatically include thecontents of one (or both) of the playback queues associated with eitherthe family room or dining room or both. In one instance, if the userstarted with the family room and added the dining room, then thecontents of the family room playback queue would become the contents ofthe family room+dining room playback queue. In another instance, if theuser started with the family room and added the dining room, then thefamily room playback queue would be renamed to the family room+diningroom playback queue. If the new group was “ungrouped,” then the familyroom+dining room playback queue may be removed from the system and/orrenamed to one of the zones (e.g., renamed to “family room” or “diningroom”). After ungrouping, each of the family room and the dining roomwill be assigned to a separate playback queue. One or more of the zoneplayers in the zone or zone group may store in memory the associatedplayback queue.

As such, when zones or zone groups are “grouped” or “ungrouped”dynamically by the user via a controller, the system will, in someembodiments, establish or remove/rename playback queues respectively, aseach zone or zone group is to be assigned to a playback queue. In otherwords, the playback queue operates as a container that can be populatedwith media items for playback by the assigned zone. In some embodiments,the media items identified in a playback queue can be manipulated (e.g.,re-arranged, added to, deleted from, and so on).

By way of illustration, FIG. 6 shows an example network 600 for mediacontent playback. As shown, the example network 600 includes examplezone players 612 and 614, example audio sources 662 and 664, and examplemedia items 620. The example media items 620 may include playlist 622,music track 624, favorite Internet radio station 626, playlists 628 and630, and album 632. In one embodiment, the zone players 612 and 614 maybe any of the zone players shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 . For instance,zone players 612 and 614 may be the zone players 106 and 108 in theFamily Room.

In one example, the example audio sources 662 and 664, and example mediaitems 620 may be partially stored on a cloud network, discussed morebelow in connection to FIG. 8 . In some cases, the portions of the audiosources 662, 664, and example media items 620 may be stored locally onone or both of the zone players 612 and 614. In one embodiment, playlist622, favorite Internet radio station 626, and playlist 630 may be storedlocally, and music track 624, playlist 628, and album 632 may be storedon the cloud network.

Each of the example media items 620 may be a list of media itemsplayable by a zone player(s). In one embodiment, the example media itemsmay be a collection of links or pointers (i.e. URI) to the underlyingdata for media items that are stored elsewhere, such as the audiosources 662 and 664. In another embodiment, the media items may includepointers to media content stored on the local zone player, another zoneplayer over a local network, or a controller device connected to thelocal network.

As shown, the example network 600 may also include an example queue 602associated with the zone player 612, and an example queue 604 associatedwith the zone player 614. Queue 606 may be associated with a group, whenin existence, comprising zone players 612 and 614. Queue 606 mightcomprise a new queue or exist as a renamed version of queue 602 or 604.In some embodiments, in a group, the zone players 612 and 614 would beassigned to queue 606 and queue 602 and 604 would not be available atthat time. In some embodiments, when the group is no longer inexistence, queue 606 is no longer available. Each zone player and eachcombination of zone players in a network of zone players, such as thoseshown in FIG. 1 or that of example zone players 612, 614, and examplecombination 616, may be uniquely assigned to a corresponding playbackqueue.

A playback queue, such as playback queues 602-606, may includeidentification of media content to be played by the corresponding zoneplayer or combination of zone players. As such, media items added to theplayback queue are to be played by the corresponding zone player orcombination of zone players. The zone player may be configured to playitems in the queue according to a specific order (such as an order inwhich the items were added), in a random order, or in some other order.

The playback queue may include a combination of playlists and othermedia items added to the queue. In one embodiment, the items in playbackqueue 602 to be played by the zone player 612 may include items from theaudio sources 662, 664, or any of the media items 622-632. The playbackqueue 602 may also include items stored locally on the zone player 612,or items accessible from the zone player 614. For instance, the playbackqueue 602 may include Internet radio 626 and album 632 items from audiosource 662, and items stored on the zone player 612.

When a media item is added to the queue via an interface of acontroller, a link to the item may be added to the queue. In a case ofadding a playlist to the queue, links to the media items in the playlistmay be provided to the queue. For example, the playback queue 602 mayinclude pointers from the Internet radio 626 and album 632, pointers toitems on the audio source 662, and pointers to items on the zone player612. In another case, a link to the playlist, for example, rather than alink to the media items in the playlist may be provided to the queue,and the zone player or combination of zone players may play the mediaitems in the playlist by accessing the media items via the playlist. Forexample, the album 632 may include pointers to items stored on audiosource 662. Rather than adding links to the items on audio source 662, alink to the album 632 may be added to the playback queue 602, such thatthe zone player 612 may play the items on the audio source 662 byaccessing the items via pointers in the album 632.

In some cases, contents as they exist at a point in time within aplayback queue may be stored as a playlist, and subsequently added tothe same queue later or added to another queue. For example, contents ofthe playback queue 602, at a particular point in time, may be saved as aplaylist, stored locally on the zone player 612 and/or on the cloudnetwork. The saved playlist may then be added to playback queue 604 tobe played by zone player 614.

VI. Example Ad-Hoc Network

Particular examples are now provided in connection with FIG. 7 todescribe, for purposes of illustration, certain embodiments to provideand facilitate connection to a playback network. FIG. 7 shows that thereare three zone players 702, 704 and 706 and a controller 708 that form anetwork branch that is also referred to as an Ad-Hoc network 710. Thenetwork 710 may be wireless, wired, or a combination of wired andwireless technologies. In general, an Ad-Hoc (or “spontaneous”) networkis a local area network or other small network in which there isgenerally no one access point for all traffic. With an establishedAd-Hoc network 710, the devices 702, 704, 706 and 708 can allcommunicate with each other in a “peer-to-peer” style of communication,for example. Furthermore, devices may join and/or leave from the network710, and the network 710 will automatically reconfigure itself withoutneeding the user to reconfigure the network 710. While an Ad-Hoc networkis referenced in FIG. 7 , it is understood that a playback network maybe based on a type of network that is completely or partially differentfrom an Ad-Hoc network.

Using the Ad-Hoc network 710, the devices 702, 704, 706, and 708 canshare or exchange one or more audio sources and be dynamically grouped(or ungrouped) to play the same or different audio sources. For example,the devices 702 and 704 are grouped to playback one piece of music, andat the same time, the device 706 plays back another piece of music. Inother words, the devices 702, 704, 706 and 708, as shown in FIG. 7 ,form a HOUSEHOLD that distributes audio and/or reproduces sound. As usedherein, the term HOUSEHOLD (provided in uppercase letters todisambiguate from the user's domicile) is used to represent a collectionof networked devices that are cooperating to provide an application orservice. An instance of a HOUSEHOLD is identified with a household 710(or household identifier), though a HOUSEHOLD may be identified with adifferent area or place.

In certain embodiments, a household identifier (HHID) is a short stringor an identifier that is computer-generated to help ensure that it isunique. Accordingly, the network 710 can be characterized by a uniqueHHID and a unique set of configuration variables or parameters, such aschannels (e.g., respective frequency bands), service set identifier(SSID) (a sequence of alphanumeric characters as a name of a wirelessnetwork), and WEP keys (wired equivalent privacy) or other securitykeys. In certain embodiments, SSID is set to be the same as HHID.

In certain embodiments, each HOUSEHOLD includes two types of networknodes: a control point (CP) and a zone player (ZP). The control pointcontrols an overall network setup process and sequencing, including anautomatic generation of required network parameters (e.g., securitykeys). In an embodiment, the CP also provides the user with a HOUSEHOLDconfiguration user interface. The CP function can be provided by acomputer running a CP application module, or by a handheld controller(e.g., the controller 308) also running a CP application module, forexample. The zone player is any other device on the network that isplaced to participate in the automatic configuration process. The ZP, asa notation used herein, includes the controller 308 or a computingdevice, for example. In some embodiments, the functionality, or certainparts of the functionality, in both the CP and the ZP are combined at asingle node (e.g., a ZP contains a CP or vice-versa).

In certain embodiments, configuration of a HOUSEHOLD involves multipleCPs and ZPs that rendezvous and establish a known configuration suchthat they can use a standard networking protocol (e.g., IP over Wired orWireless Ethernet) for communication. In an embodiment, two types ofnetworks/protocols are employed: Ethernet 802.3 and Wireless 802.11g.Interconnections between a CP and a ZP can use either of thenetworks/protocols. A device in the system as a member of a HOUSEHOLDcan connect to both networks simultaneously.

In an environment that has both networks in use, it is assumed that atleast one device in a system is connected to both as a bridging device,thus providing bridging services between wired/wireless networks forothers. The zone player 706 in FIG. 7 is shown to be connected to bothnetworks, for example. The connectivity to the network 712 is based onEthernet and/or Wireless, while the connectivity to other devices 702,704 and 708 is based on Wireless and Ethernet if so desired.

It is understood, however, that in some embodiments each zone player706, 704, 702 may access the Internet when retrieving media from thecloud (e.g., the Internet) via the bridging device. For example, zoneplayer 702 may contain a uniform resource locator (URL) that specifiesan address to a particular audio track in the cloud. Using the URL, thezone player 702 may retrieve the audio track from the cloud, andultimately play the audio out of one or more zone players.

VII. Another Example System Configuration

FIG. 8 shows a system 800 including a plurality of interconnectednetworks including a cloud-based network and at least one local playbacknetwork. A local playback network includes a plurality of playbackdevices or players, though it is understood that the playback networkmay contain only one playback device. In certain embodiments, eachplayer has an ability to retrieve its content for playback. Control andcontent retrieval can be distributed or centralized, for example. Inputcan include streaming content provider input, third party applicationinput, mobile device input, user input, and/or other playback networkinput into the cloud for local distribution and playback.

As illustrated by the example system 800 of FIG. 8 , a plurality ofcontent providers 820-850 can be connected to one or more local playbacknetworks 860-870 via a cloud and/or other network 810. Using the cloud810, a multimedia audio system server 820 (e.g., Sonos™), a mobiledevice 830, a third party application 840, a content provider 850 and soon can provide multimedia content (requested or otherwise) to localplayback networks 860, 870. Within each local playback network 860, 870,a controller 862, 872 and a playback device 864, 874 can be used toplayback audio content.

VIII. Example Updating of Playlists in a Network Media System

As discussed above, embodiments described herein involve transferring ofa first playback queue from a first group of one or more playback zonesto a second group of one or more playback zones within a network mediasystem. FIG. 9 shows an example flow diagram for transferring a playbackqueue in a network media system, in accordance with at least someembodiments described herein. Method 900 shown in FIG. 9 presents anembodiment of a method that could be used in the environments 100, 600,700, and 800 with the systems 200, 202, 204, 300, 400, and 500 forexample, in communication with one or more devices, such as thoseillustrated in FIGS. 2-5 . Method 900 may include one or moreoperations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more ofblocks 902-910. Although the blocks are illustrated in sequential order,these blocks may also be performed in parallel, and/or in a differentorder than those described herein. Also, the various blocks may becombined into fewer blocks, divided into additional blocks, and/orremoved based upon the desired implementation.

In addition, for the method 900 and other processes and methodsdisclosed herein, the flowchart shows functionality and operation of onepossible implementation of present embodiments. In this regard, eachblock may represent a module, a segment, or a portion of program code,which includes one or more instructions executable by a processor forimplementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. Theprogram code may be stored on any type of computer readable medium, forexample, such as a storage device including a disk or hard drive. Thecomputer readable medium may include non-transitory computer readablemedium, for example, such as computer-readable media that stores datafor short periods of time like register memory, processor cache andRandom Access Memory (RAM). The computer readable medium may alsoinclude non-transitory media, such as secondary or persistent long termstorage, like read only memory (ROM), optical or magnetic disks,compact-disc read only memory (CD-ROM), for example. The computerreadable media may also be any other volatile or non-volatile storagesystems. The computer readable medium may be considered a computerreadable storage medium, for example, or a tangible storage device. Inaddition, for the method 900 and other processes and methods disclosedherein, each block in FIG. 9 may represent circuitry that is wired toperform the specific logical functions in the process.

At block 902, the method 900 involves providing a first zonerepresentation of a playback zone on an interface. The interface may beprovided on the controller 130 as discussed above, in the form of anapplication running on a network-enabled device. In one case, the firstcontroller interface may be an application associated with the networkmedia system, such as a controller application for SONOS zone players.The interface may be accessible by a user to manage and control anetwork media system, which may include one or more playback zones, eachincluding one or more playback devices. In one example, the deviceproviding the user interface may include a touch-sensitive screeninterface, such that the user may manage and control the network mediasystem through touch inputs on the interface.

The one or more playback devices may include zone players by SONOS,Inc., as identified previously. As discussed in connection to FIG. 7 ,each zone of the network media system may have an associated playbackqueue, established to contain information identifying one or more mediaitems to be played by the zone. In some cases, a particular playbackqueue may be associated with, or coupled to each zone or group of zonesin the network media system.

The playback queue associated with the playback zone referenced in block902 may be stored on a device. In one example, the device may be one ormore of the one or more playback devices in the playback zone. Inanother example, the device may be a remote server, such as a cloudserver accessible over the Internet by the one or more playback devicesin the zone. In either case, the playback queue stored on the device mayinclude one or more uniform resource identifiers (URIs) of the playableitems in the playback queue to be played by the playback zone.

At block 904, the method 900 involves providing a first queuerepresentation of a first one or more playable items in a particularposition relative to the zone representation on the interface. In oneexample, the first queue representation may involve textualrepresentations of the one or more playable items. The particularposition of the first queue representation may indicate that theplayback queue associated with the playback zone includes the first oneor more playable items. In one case, the first queue representation mayindicate the first one or more playable items currently being played bythe first zone group.

FIG. 10A shows a first example representation 1000 of a first exampleinterface for transferring a playback queue in a network media system.The first example representation 1000 includes zone grouprepresentations 1002, 1004, and 1006. The zone group representation 1002includes zone identifiers 1012 and playback identifier 1032. The zoneidentifiers 1012 may indicate zones that are in a zone group representedby the zone group representation 1002, and the playback identifier 1032may indicate media content currently being played by the zone grouprepresented by the zone group representation 1002. As shown, theplayback identifier 1032 is in a relative position of the zoneidentifier 1012 indicating that a playback queue associated with thezone group representation 1002 includes the media content identified bythe playback identifier 1032. Similarly, zone group representation 1004may include zone identifiers 1014 and playback identifier 1034, and zonegroup representation 1006 may include zone identifiers 1016 and playbackidentifier 1036. The first example representation 1000 further includesselectable icons 1022 and 1024. The selectable icon 1022 may be selectedto pause playback by all zones in the household, and the selectable icon1024 may be selected to toggle between household zone playback modes. Inthis example, the selectable icon 1024 may be selected to turn off“party mode.” In one case, “party mode” may involve a configuration ofplayback zones in the household for hosting social gatherings. In thiscase, another mode, such as “normal mode” may involve a configuration ofthe playback zones in the household for daily household routines.

As shown, the zone group represented by zone group representation 1002includes zones “Dining Room” and “Kitchen,” and is currently playing“Positively 4^(th) Street” by Bob Dylan, while the zone grouprepresented by zone group representation 1004 includes zones “LivingRoom,” “Map Room,” and “Study,” and the zone group represented by zonegroup representation 1006 includes a zone “Office.” Also as shown, zonegroups represented by zone group representation 1004 and zone grouprepresentation 1006 are not currently playing any music. In one case, assuggested previously, the user may wish to transfer or extend theplayback of “Positively 4^(th) Street” to other zones or zone groups. Inthis case, the user may select 1018 the zone group 1002 to bring up asecond example representation 1050 of the first example interface, asshown in FIG. 10B, to further manage and control the network mediasystem.

The second example representation 1050 of FIG. 10B may include aplayback identifier 1052, a zone list 1072, zone group side-swipeoptions indicator 1062, and selectable icons 1054, 1056, and 1092. Thezone list 1072 may include a list of different zones in the household,and the playback identifier 1052 may indicate media content currentlybeing played by zones in a zone group 1074. As shown, the playbackidentifier 1052 is in a relative position of the zone group 1074 withinthe zone list 1072 indicating that a playback queue associated with thezone group 1074 includes the media content identified by the playbackidentifier 1052. In some instances, the playback identifier 1052 mayfurther be a queue identifier indicating media content in the playbackqueue associated with the zone group 1074.

In this case, the zone group 1074 may include “Kitchen,” “Living Room,”and “Office,” which may have been previously selected and groupedtogether. In this case, the different zones in the household may furtherbe selected or deselected to form different zone groups. In one example,the side-swipe options indicator 1062 may indicate that four otherplayback queues that may or may not yet be associated to a zone or zonegroup may also be available, and a swipe input 1082 may be used tonavigate between the different playback queues. For instance, two of theother combinations may be accessed by swiping to the left, and two ofthe other combinations may be accessed by swiping to the right.

Further in this example, the selectable icon 1092 may be selected toselect all zones listed in the zone list 1072, the selectable icon 1054may be selected to cancel changes made to the zone group combinations,and the selectable icon 1056 may be selected to confirm or save changesmade to the zone group combinations.

In addition to the first example interface shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B,FIG. 11A shows a first example representation 1100 of a second exampleinterface for transferring a playback queue in a network media system.The first example representation 1100 of the second example interfaceincludes a general network media system control panel 1102 forcontrolling playback of media items, controlling playback volumes, andaccessing music sources associated with playback zones of the networkmedia system. The example representation 1100 also includes a groupregion 1108, a music source region 1112, a now-playing region 1110, anda playback queue region 1114.

As shown, the group region 1108 includes one or more zone groups in thenetwork media system, such as Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, asidentified by group icons 1116, 1118, and 1120, respectively. The groupicons 1116, 1118, and 1120 may further include zone group queueidentifiers 1126, 1128, and 1130 in relative positions to the groupicons 1116, 1118, and 1120 to identify media items being rendered byGroup 1, Group 2, and Group 3, respectively. In this example, the groupicon 1116 may be visually distinct from group icons 1118 and 1120, orother group icons in the group region 1108. The visual distinction mayindicate that the media item identified in the now-playing region 1110and a playback queue shown in the playback queue region 1114 areassociated with Group 1. In other words, as shown in FIG. 11A, the mediaitem identified in the now-playing region 1110 is media item currentlybeing played by playback devices in Group 1, and the playback queueshown in the playback queue region 1114 include items that are to beplayed by Group 1. Other example interfaces are also possible.

Referring back to the method 900 of FIG. 9 , block 906 may involvereceiving an input via the interface indicating a movement of a secondqueue representation to the particular position relative to the firstzone representation. The second queue representation may be that of asecond one or more playable items. Analogous to the first queuerepresentation, the second queue representation may be previously in aposition relative to a second zone representation of a second zonegroup, indicating that the second one or more playable items arecurrently being played by the second zone group.

In some cases, an alternative block of method 900 may involve receivingan input via the interface indicating a movement of the second zonerepresentation to a position such that the first queue representation isin the particular relative position relative to the second zonerepresentation. In other words, the received input may indicate amovement of a second queue representation to the position of the firstqueue representation, or a movement of the second zone representation tothe position of the first zone representation.

In one example, referring back to FIG. 10B, the input indicating themovement of group or queue representations may include a swipinginteraction with the interface, such as the swipe input 1082. In oneexample, the swiping interaction may involve causing the first zonerepresentation to move such that the second queue representation is inthe particular position relative to the first zone representation. Inother words, as the swipe input 1082 may be used to navigate between thedifferent group zone combinations, the swipe input 1082 may accordinglyindicate movements of zone representations to a position such that theplayback identifier 1052 (which may also be a queue representation, asindicated previously) is in the relative position of the zonerepresentations, even if the playback identifier 1052 itself remainsstationary.

In another example, the input indicating the movement of group or queuerepresentations may include a drag-and-drop interaction with theinterface, such as drag-and-drop interactions 1152 and 1154 as shown inFIG. 11A. As shown, the drag-and-drop interaction 1152 may involvedragging the playback queue region 1114 to the zone group queuerepresentation 1128, which is in a relative position to group icon 1118of Group 2. The drag-and-drop interaction 1154, as shown, may involvedragging the zone group queue representation 1130 in a relative positionto group icon 1120 of Group 3 to the playback queue region 1114. Whilethe drag-and-drop interactions 1152 and 1154 may be provided indifferent visual contexts on the interface 1100, both interaction inputsreceived at block 906 of method 900 may indicate a movement of a secondqueue representation to the particular position relative to the firstzone representation.

As previously discussed, the input indicating the movement of the secondqueue representation to the particular position relative to the firstzone representation may cause the second one or more playable itemsrepresented by the second queue representation to populate the queueassociated with the playback zone represented by the first zonerepresentation. As such, responsive to the input, a message may be sentto the device where the playback queue associated with the playback zonerepresented by the first zone representation is stored to cause theplayback queue to be updated to include the second one or more playableitems. In one case, if the playback queue previously included first oneor more playable items, the first one or more playable items in theplayback queue may be replaced by the second one or more playable items.

In one example, the interface and/or device where the playback queue isstored may be configured to store the first one or more playable itemsas a playlist, such that the replacement of the first one or moreplayable items may be undone if the user changes his or her mind. In onecase, the first one or more playable items may be automatically storedas a playlist. In another case, the interface may be configured toprovide on the interface a prompt for an indication of whether the firstone or more playable items should be stored as the playlist. In otherwords, rather than automatically saving the first one or more playableitems as a playlist, the user may be prompted to indicate whether he orshe wishes to save the first one or more playable items as a playlist.In this case, the first one or more playable items in the playback queuemay be stored as a playlist only if the interface receives from the useran input indicating that the first one or more playable items in theplayback queue should be stored as a playlist. In either case, theinterface may provide on the interface an indication that the first oneor more playable items have been stored as a playlist. In one case, ifthe playback queue was previously empty, then the playback queue maysimply be populated with the second one or more playable items.

Upon updating the playback queue to include the second one or moreplayable items, or in one case, replacing the first one or more playableitems in the playback queue with the second one or more playable items,the interface may be updated to reflect resulting changes at block 908and 910 of the method 900. In this case, block 908 may involve removingthe first queue representation from the particular position relative tothe first zone representation, and block 910 may involve providing thesecond queue representation in the particular position relative to thefirst zone representation. These modifications to the interface mayindicate that the playback queue associated with the playback zone nowincludes the second one or more playable items.

FIG. 11B shows a second example representation 1160 of the secondexample interface for transferring the playback queue in a network mediasystem. In one example, the second example representation 1160 may beprovided in response to the interaction 1152 shown in FIG. 11A. Asshown, the playback queue as represented in the playback queue region1114 may have been extended to the playback queue of Group 2,represented by zone group queue identifier 1128′. As such, the playbackqueue of Group 2 may have been populated with playable items shown inthe playback queue region 1114 of FIG. 11A. In this example, the groupicon 1118 may now be visually distinct indicating that the media itemidentified in the now-playing region 1110 and the playback queue shownin the playback queue region 1114 are associated with Group 2. In thiscase, because the playback queue of Group 2 was extended from theplayback queue of Group 1, the now-playing region 1110 and the playbackqueue region 1114 may appear substantially the same for both Group 1 andGroup 2.

FIG. 11C shows a third example representation 1170 of the second exampleinterface for transferring the playback queue in a network media system.In one example, the third example representation 1170 may be provided inresponse to the interaction 1154 shown in FIG. 11A. As shown, theplayback queue of Group 3, as represented by the zone group identifier1130 may have been extended to the playback queue associated with Group1 and shown in the playback queue region 1114. As such, the playbackqueue associated with Group 1 may have been populated with playableitems in the playback queue of Group 3. As shown, the playback queueregion 1114′ may have been updated with playable items in the playbackqueue of Group 3, and the now-playing region 1110′ may have been updatedto identify a media item from the playback queue of Group 3 that iscurrently being played. In this example, the group icon 1116 may stillbe visually distinct indicating that the media item identified in thenow-playing region 1110′ and the playback queue shown in the playbackqueue region 1114′ are still associated with Group 1, though updatedwith items from the playback queue of Group 3. In this case, if Group 3was selected to be viewed, the now-playing region 1110′ and the playbackqueue region 1114′ for Group 3 may appear substantially the same asGroup 1, because the updated playback queue of Group 1 was extended fromthe playback queue of Group 3.

As discussed previously, the network media system discussed may includea plurality of playback devices and/or playback zones playing mediacontent in synchrony. As such, when a playback queue being played by anoriginal playback zone is extended to a new playback zone, the playbackof media items in the playback queue by the original playback zone andthe new playback zone may be configured to be in a substantiallysynchronous manner. In one case, if the playback queue is beingtransferred such that the original playback zone stops playing the mediaitems of the playback queue as the new playback zone begins to play themedia items in the playback queue, the playback of the of the mediaitems in the playback queue by the original playback zone may fade outas the playback of the media items in the playback queue by the newplayback zone may fade in, while in substantial synchrony with the fadeout playback by the original playback zone.

Other example configurations and embodiments may also be possible.

IX. Conclusion

The descriptions above disclose various example systems, methods,apparatus, and articles of manufacture including, among othercomponents, firmware and/or software executed on hardware. However, suchexamples are merely illustrative and should not be considered aslimiting. For example, it is contemplated that any or all of thesefirmware, hardware, and/or software components can be embodiedexclusively in hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively infirmware, or in any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware.Accordingly, while the following describes example systems, methods,apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture, the examples provided are notthe only way(s) to implement such systems, methods, apparatus, and/orarticles of manufacture.

As indicated above, the present application transferring a firstplayback queue from a first group of one or more playback zones to asecond group of one or more playback zones within a network mediasystem. In one aspect, a method is provided. The method involvesproviding a first zone representation of a playback zone on aninterface. The playback zone comprises one or more playback devices, andthe playback zone is associated with a playback queue comprisingplayable items to be played by the playback zone. The method furtherinvolves providing a first queue representation of a first one or moreplayable items in a particular position relative to the first zonerepresentation on the interface. The particular position of the firstqueue representation indicates that the playback queue associated withthe first playback zone comprises the first one or more playable items.The method also involve receiving an input via the interface causing asecond queue representation of a second one or more playable items to bemoved to the particular position relative to the first zonerepresentation, and responsive to the input, modifying the interface toremove the first queue representation from the particular positionrelative to the first zone representation and providing the second queuerepresentation in the particular position relative to the first zonerepresentation, indicating that the playback queue associated with theplayback zone now comprises the second one or more playable items.

In another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable memory isprovided. The non-transitory computer readable memory has stored thereoninstructions executable by a computing device to cause the computingdevice to perform functions. The functions include providing a firstzone representation of a playback zone on an interface. The playbackzone comprises one or more playback devices, and the playback zone isassociated with a playback queue comprising playable items to be playedby the playback zone. The functions further include providing a firstqueue representation of a first one or more playable items in aparticular position relative to the first zone representation on theinterface. The particular position of the first queue representationindicates that the playback queue associated with the first playbackzone comprises the first one or more playable items. The functions alsoinclude receiving an input via the interface causing a second queuerepresentation of a second one or more playable items to be moved to theparticular position relative to the first zone representation, andresponsive to the input, modifying the interface to remove the firstqueue representation from the particular position relative to the firstzone representation and providing the second queue representation in theparticular position relative to the first zone representation,indicating that the playback queue associated with the playback zone nowcomprises the second one or more playable items.

In yet another aspect, a device is provided. The device includes aprocessor and memory having stored thereon instructions executable bythe processor to perform functions. The functions include providing afirst zone representation of a playback zone on an interface. Theplayback zone comprises one or more playback devices, and the playbackzone is associated with a playback queue comprising playable items to beplayed by the playback zone. The functions further include providing afirst queue representation of a first one or more playable items in aparticular position relative to the first zone representation on theinterface. The particular position of the first queue representationindicates that the playback queue associated with the first playbackzone comprises the first one or more playable items. The functions alsoinclude receiving an input via the interface causing a second queuerepresentation of a second one or more playable items to be moved to theparticular position relative to the first zone representation, andresponsive to the input, modifying the interface to remove the firstqueue representation from the particular position relative to the firstzone representation and providing the second queue representation in theparticular position relative to the first zone representation,indicating that the playback queue associated with the playback zone nowcomprises the second one or more playable items.

Additionally, references herein to “embodiment” means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment can be included in at least one example embodiment of theinvention. The appearances of this phrase in various places in thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment,nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of otherembodiments. As such, the embodiments described herein, explicitly andimplicitly understood by one skilled in the art, can be combined withother embodiments.

The specification is presented largely in terms of illustrativeenvironments, systems, procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, andother symbolic representations that directly or indirectly resemble theoperations of data processing devices coupled to networks. These processdescriptions and representations are typically used by those skilled inthe art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide athorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it isunderstood to those skilled in the art that certain embodiments of thepresent disclosure can be practiced without certain, specific details.In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, andcircuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring aspects of the embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of thepresent disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than theforgoing description of embodiments.

When any of the appended claims are read to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the elements in at leastone example is hereby expressly defined to include a tangible mediumsuch as a memory, DVD, CD, Blu-ray, and so on, storing the softwareand/or firmware.

1. A control device comprising: at least one processor; at least onenon-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructionsthat are executable by the at least one processor such that the controldevice is configured to: display a graphical interface comprising: (i) afirst group icon in a first position, the first group icon correspondingto a first group of one or more first playback devices; (ii) a firstregion comprising one or more first media item indications correspondingto media items available for playback by the first group, the firstregion being displayed in a particular position relative to the firstgroup icon on the graphical interface, wherein the particular positionof the first region indicates that the first region is associated withthe first group of one or more first playback devices; (iii) a secondgroup icon in a second position, the second group icon corresponding toa second group of one or more second playback devices; and (iv) a secondregion comprising zero or more second media item indicationscorresponding to media items available for playback by the second group,the second region being displayed in a particular position relative tothe second group icon on the graphical interface, wherein the particularposition of the second region indicates that the second region isassociated with the second group of one or more second playback devices;receive, via the graphical interface, an input indicating movement of atleast one first media item indication corresponding to at least onemedia item from the first region to the second region; and based on theinput, modify the graphical interface such that the second region isupdated to include at least one second media item indicationcorresponding to the at least one media item, wherein the at least onesecond media item indication, when selected, causes the second group toplay back the at least one media item without causing the first group toplay back the at least one media item.
 2. The control device of claim 1,wherein the at least one first media item indication, when selected,causes the first group to play back the at least one media item withoutcausing the second group to play back the at least one media item. 3.The control device of claim 1, wherein: the one or more first media itemindications comprise a set of media item indications corresponding to aset of media items; and the at least one first media item indicationcomprises the set of media item indications.
 4. The control device ofclaim 1, wherein: the one or more first media item indications comprisea set of media item indications corresponding to a set of media items;and the at least one first media item indication excludes at least onemedia item indication from the set of media item indications.
 5. Thecontrol device of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-transitorycomputer-readable medium further comprises program instructions suchthat the control device is configured to: receive, via the graphicalinterface, an input indicating a selection of the at least one secondmedia item indication; and based on the input, cause the second group toplay back the media item.
 6. The control device of claim 1, wherein theat least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprisesprogram instructions such that the control device is configured to:based on receiving an input via the graphical interface indicating aselection of the at least one first media item indication, cause thefirst group to play back the media item; and based on receiving an inputvia the graphical interface indicating a selection of the at least onesecond media item indication, cause the second group to play back themedia item.
 7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the programinstructions that are executable by the at least one processor such thatthe control device is configured to receive the input indicatingmovement of the at least one first media item indication correspondingto the at least one media item from the first region to the secondregion comprise program instructions that are executable by the at leastone processor such that the control device is configured to: receive,via the graphical interface, an input indicating movement of a queue ofmedia items from the first region to the second region.
 8. The controldevice of claim 1, wherein the program instructions that are executableby the at least one processor such that the control device is configuredto cause the second group to play back the at least one media itemcomprise program instructions that are executable by the at least oneprocessor such that the control device is configured to: add the atleast one media item to a playback queue associated with the secondgroup.
 9. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium havingstored thereon instructions executable by at least one processor tocause a control device to perform functions comprising: displaying agraphical interface comprising: (i) a first group icon in a firstposition, the first group icon corresponding to a first group of one ormore first playback devices; (ii) a first region comprising one or morefirst media item indications corresponding to media items available forplayback by the first group, the first region being displayed in aparticular position relative to the first group icon on the graphicalinterface, wherein the particular position of the first region indicatesthat the first region is associated with the first group of one or morefirst playback devices; (iii) a second group icon in a second position,the second group icon corresponding to a second group of one or moresecond playback devices; and (iv) a second region comprising zero ormore second media item indications corresponding to media itemsavailable for playback by the second group, the second region beingdisplayed in a particular position relative to the second group icon onthe graphical interface, wherein the particular position of the secondregion indicates that the second region is associated with the secondgroup of one or more second playback devices; receiving, via thegraphical interface, an input indicating movement of at least one firstmedia item indication corresponding to at least one media item from thefirst region to the second region; and based on the input, modifying thegraphical interface such that the second region is updated to include atleast one second media item indication corresponding to the at least onemedia item, wherein the at least one second media item indication, whenselected, causes the second group to play back the at least one mediaitem without causing the first group to play back the at least one mediaitem.
 10. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 9, wherein the at least one first media item indication, whenselected, causes the first group to play back the at least one mediaitem without causing the second group to play back the at least onemedia item.
 11. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable mediumof claim 9, wherein: the one or more first media item indicationscomprise a set of media item indications corresponding to a set of mediaitems; and the at least one first media item indication comprises theset of media item indications.
 12. The at least one non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein: the one or more firstmedia item indications comprise a set of media item indicationscorresponding to a set of media items; and the at least one first mediaitem indication excludes at least one media item indication from the setof media item indications.
 13. The at least one non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least onenon-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises programinstructions such that the control device is configured to: receive, viathe graphical interface, an input indicating a selection of the at leastone second media item indication; and based on the input, cause thesecond group to play back the media item.
 14. The at least onenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at leastone non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises programinstructions such that the control device is configured to: based onreceiving an input via the graphical interface indicating a selection ofthe at least one first media item indication, cause the first group toplay back the media item; and based on receiving an input via thegraphical interface indicating a selection of the at least one secondmedia item indication, cause the second group to play back the mediaitem.
 15. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 9, wherein the instructions that are executable by the at leastone processor such that the control device is configured to receive theinput indicating movement of the at least one first media itemindication corresponding to the at least one media item from the firstregion to the second region comprise program instructions that areexecutable by the at least one processor such that the control device isconfigured to: receive, via the graphical interface, an input indicatingmovement of a queue of media items from the first region to the secondregion.
 16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 9, wherein the instructions that are executable by the at leastone processor such that the control device is configured to cause thesecond group to play back the at least one media item comprise programinstructions that are executable by the at least one processor such thatthe control device is configured to: add the at least one media item toa playback queue associated with the second group.
 17. A method to beperformed by a control device, the method comprising: displaying agraphical interface comprising: (i) a first group icon in a firstposition, the first group icon corresponding to a first group of one ormore first playback devices; (ii) a first region comprising one or morefirst media item indications corresponding to media items available forplayback by the first group, the first region being displayed in aparticular position relative to the first group icon on the graphicalinterface, wherein the particular position of the first region indicatesthat the first region is associated with the first group of one or morefirst playback devices; (iii) a second group icon in a second position,the second group icon corresponding to a second group of one or moresecond playback devices; and (iv) a second region comprising zero ormore second media item indications corresponding to media itemsavailable for playback by the second group, the second region beingdisplayed in a particular position relative to the second group icon onthe graphical interface, wherein the particular position of the secondregion indicates that the second region is associated with the secondgroup of one or more second playback devices; receiving, via thegraphical interface, an input indicating movement of at least one firstmedia item indication corresponding to at least one media item from thefirst region to the second region; and based on the input, modifying thegraphical interface such that the second region is updated to include atleast one second media item indication corresponding to the at least onemedia item, wherein the at least one second media item indication, whenselected, causes the second group to play back the at least one mediaitem without causing the first group to play back the at least one mediaitem.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one first mediaitem indication, when selected, causes the first group to play back theat least one media item without causing the second group to play backthe at least one media item.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein: theone or more first media item indications comprise a set of media itemindications corresponding to a set of media items; and the at least onefirst media item indication comprises the set of media item indications.20. The method of claim 17, wherein: the one or more first media itemindications comprise a set of media item indications corresponding to aset of media items; and the at least one first media item indicationexcludes at least one media item indication from the set of media itemindications.